Phratora

Phratora species are found in the Northern Hemisphere in areas that tend to be cool and moist where their host plants thrive. They are usually found in Northern and Southern Europe, and in Canada and the United States of America. == Host plants ==

Species in this genus are of considerable interest to evolutionary ecology researchers because they vary with respect to host plant preference and chemistry of their larval defensive secretions. == Natural enemies ==

Predators of Phratora eggs include A. nemorum, Orthotylus marginalisand the syrphid fly Parasyrphus nigritarsis. Larval predators include A. nemorum, the bug Rhacognathus punctatus, Adult beetles are consumed by R. punctatus. More information about natural enemies can be found in the articles about Phratora laticollis, Phratora vitellinae and Phratora vulgatissima. == Larval defense secretions ==

The mechanism of larval defensive secretion production, its relationship to host plant preference, and its evolutionary significance has been studied. The secretions can repel natural enemies or conspecifics. More information about larval secretions can be found in the articles about Phratora laticollis and Phratora vitellinae. == Economic Importance ==

Some species (especially Phratora vulgatissima) are considered pests when populations build up in willow plantations. ==Species==

These 16 species belong to the genus Phratora: • Phratora americana (Schaeffer, 1928) i c g b • Phratora antennaria (Apfelbeck, 1912) g • Phratora atrovirens (Cornelius, 1857) g • Phratora californica Brown, 1961 i c g • Phratora frosti Brown, 1951 i c g • Phratora hudsonia Brown, 1951 i c g b (birch leaf beetle) • Phratora interstitialis Mannerheim, 1853 i c g b • Phratora kenaiensis Brown, 1952 i c g • Phratora koreana Takizawa, 1985 g • Phratora laticollis (Suffrian, 1851) g • Phratora polaris (Sparre Schneider, 1886) g • Phratora purpurea Brown, 1951 i c g b (aspen skeletonizer) • Phratora similis (Chujo, 1958) g • Phratora tibialis (Suffrian, 1851) g • Phratora vitellinae (Linnaeus, 1758) g (brassy leaf beetle) • Phratora vulgatissima (Linnaeus, 1758) g (blue willow leaf beetle) Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net ==References==